FW: Prashanthi Bulletin - 01 Jan & 02 JAN

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Sai Ram.

http://www.radiosai.org/pages/PB.htm

Prashanthi Bulletin

January 1st 2005It was the dawn of the New Year marking the beginning of the

celebrations of the 80th year of the advent of the Sathya Sai Avatar. The Sai

Kulwant Hall was beautifully decorated with floral buntings and banners on the

pillars, windows and the Mandir walls, marked with the slogan "80 Years of LOVE

IN ACTION - BHAGAWAN SRI SATYA SAI BABA". The banner had a lemon yellow

background with bright red and deep blue coloured letters on it. It looked very

attractive and elegant. And there came the Lord at 7.15 am in the new Golf Cart.

He came and took his seat on the center of the dais. The programme began with a

talk by Sri Indulal Shah, Former Chairman, World Council, Sri Sathya Sai Seva

Organisations and currently International Advisor of the Organisation and

Member of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. He began his talk saying that the

devotees should be what Hanuman was to Lord Rama and the Gopikas to Lord

Krishna. The life of the devotees should be an ideal to carry the message of

Sai. He also said that the devotees should not lose any opportunity to share

their Love with fellow men. They need to understand, practice and propagate Sri

Sathya Sai Educare. They must undertake the Grama Seva activities with added

fervour and above all incessantly indulge in Namasmarana of the Lord. He said

that over the next 365 days, hundreds of districts from India and over 2000

Centres across the globe, will be a part of the festive celebrations at

Prasanthinilayam. He then prayed to Bhagawan to permit the presentation of two

programmes at the Divine Feet. The first programme which started at 7.30 am -

National Music Presentation, was a set of group songs by Indians from all over

the country who had specially gathered at Prasanthinilayam for the occasion.

They sang 6 songs - 3 in Hindi and 3 in Telugu on the theme - "Sai Our Divine

Destiny". This was followed at 8.00 am by an International Choir presented by

the overseas devotees. Devotees from many countries had gathered and sang 8

songs in English and other foreign languages. All the while, Swami was giving a

Blissful smile and waving His hands in the air, seemingly looking into eternity,

often closing His eyes and then reopening them! All of us gathered there were

literally transported to another world on the auspicious New Year day.

Thereafter, Swami blessed a group of youth from the USA to sing some songs.

They sang a few songs and Bhajans. The morning programme came to a close at

9.30 am with Prasadam Distribution and Aarti to Bhagawan. The evening programme

commenced at 3.10 p.m. with the arrival of Bhagawan once again in the new Golf

Cart. Swami came and sat on the sofa at the centre of the dais. The old

students of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthinilayam

and Brindavan Campus, were blessed by Swami to put up their programme in the

Divine Presence. A group of the senior old students presented Bhagawan with

flowers and the programme card. Swami also released some audio cassettes of the

Bhajans recorded by the old students. Bhagawan Blessed the Vice Chancellor to

introduce the programme. The VC said that the Bhakti Marga through Bhajans, the

Karma Marga through Grama Seva and other allied service activities and the Jnana

Marga through the chanting of the Vedam - all three found their fulfillment at

the abode of the Lord at His Lotus Feet. At around 3.20 pm the programme

commenced. There were 18 songs in Hindi, Sanskrit and Telugu. Students from

very senior batches had come and participated in the programme. To name a few

stalwart singers - - Sonam, V. Kumar, Kote, Ajnish, Vijay Sai and many others

who sang their hearts out, filled with devotion to their dearest Mother Sai.

When Bhagawan Blessed them before starting the programme, He remarked that with

Him there are no old or current students. All are just students!! (forever!!)

Bhagawan once again was full of ethereal smiles!! Closing His eyes and waving

His hands, sometimes giving the beat with His fingers, He reciprocated to the

devotion pregnant in their songs! Thereafter, our brothers from the Institute

Band got an opportunity to play their tunes for Swami. They were praying since

morning for this chance and finally Swami blessed them to go ahead. They had

totally lost the hope that Swami would permit them. But when one leaves the

expectation and learns to accept, the Lord rewards and so did He! They played 8

tunes - some Bhajan tunes and the other typical and popular band tunes. Swami

called the band leader and materialized a gold bracelet for him. While the band

boys played their tunes, Prasadam and New Year Diaries were distributed to the

students and staff. At 5.15 pm, Swami blessed Mr. Ajit Popat from London to

address the gathering. Mr. Popat spoke for half an hour. He spoke about the

inner significance of the word "Happy" in the term "Happy New Year" that

Bhagawan had explained to him. H - HolyA - AwarenessP - PatienceP - PurityY -

Yogi. He said that only when we put this meaning of the word Happy and Swami's

teachings into practice can we really call it a Happy New Year. He also

mentioned that people feel that so many thousands of people have died in the

Tsunami disaster, but what is Swami doing about it. However, we must understand

that had it not been for Swami's Grace, instead of mere thousands, lakhs would

have perished. We always see what has happened but we never know what could

have happened but was averted. The Lord works quietly; taking no credit for all

that He has done and is doing since time immemorial! It is only man who is not

discharging his duties appropriately and creating chaos, confusion and

corruption. Consequently, Nature is getting imbalanced, thereby resulting in

such catastrophes. The programme came to a close with Aarti to Bhagawan at 5.50

pm. Thus ended the first day of this very eventful and epoch making year. We

wish you all a very Happy and a Holy New year. Come, be a part of the

celebrations of the 80th year of the advent of the Avatar -in person or in

spirit, for such an opportunity will not come again in aeons to come... January

2nd 2005This morning, Bhagawan came out for Darshan at 7.40 a.m. in the new Golf

Cart. Meanwhile, at 7.30 a.m., the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Sri Y. S.

Rajasekhar Reddy arrived with his big team. They had arrived at Parthi last

night itself for some inauguration associated with the Tourism Ministry of A.P.

Their cars halted at the main gate of the Mandir near the Rama Statue. From

there, Sri Y. S. R. Reddy and the other dignitaries came walking into the

Mandir and proceeded straight towards the main Portico. Ten minutes later,

Bhagawan came into the Hall for Darshan. He took a full round and proceeded

towards the interview room. The Chief Minister was taken in for an interview by

the Lord. The interview went on for about half an hour. This was the first visit

of Sri Y. S. R. Reddy to Swami. In the evening, Bhagawan came out for Darshan at

3.40 p.m. He took a full round of the Kulwant Hall in the Golf Cart, and came

and settled down on the Sofa. Most of our old students were seated next to the

Vedam group as Swami had given an indication that He would possibly interact

with them. Many others who were scheduled to leave by 4.00 p.m. were seated

near the Krishna Statue. Swami asked for the programme to be put up by the old

students. We do not know whether they were prepared for this or not, but they

all positioned themselves behind the mikes and for the next one hour we had

soul stirring and mellifluous music soothing our ears. All the stalwarts who

sang yesterday were present again and some who came late squeezed in

'stealthily' as Swami was closing His 'eyes' lost in Bliss!! Andari Baduvvaiyya

Bhadrachala Ramaiyya, Tana Ke Tambure Me Jo Sason Ke Tar Bole, O Ma Sai Ma Tu

Kitni Achhi Hai, Om Namah Sivaya...Teen Shabdo Mein Shrushti Sare Samaye, Enta

Hai Enta Hai Ee Naadu, Radhika Krishna Radhika Tava Hrudaye Keshava, Tera Ramji

Karenge Beda Paar, Krishna Nee Begane Baro and many more scintillating Ragas and

Taalas filled the air with elevating feelings. This was followed by a number of

Bhajans. Throughout, Swami was lost in the songs! We drank in the ecstasy

overflowing from His Blissful smile and swayed to the beats of His Divine

Hands!! At 5.10 p.m., Bhagawan instructed the Vice Chancellor about something.

A little while later, watches were distributed by the Vice Chancellor to the

group of singers! Prasadam was distributed to all in the Kulwant Hall. The

Prasadam was a delicious Laddu packed inside a beautiful, attractive box with

the same print of "80 Years of Love in Action' on it. This was organized and

arranged by the Sai Students. Bhagawan took Aarti at 5.20 p.m. and retired for

the day filling the hearts of the Sai Students to the brim and even spilling

over! When He gives it is much much more than what one could possibly expect!!

That is the compassion and Love of our Beloved Mother Sai. Can He withhold

Himself when His children come back to Him? His Love was just pouring out!!

We'll get back to you with reports on the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet

Celebrations on the 11th of January.

 

Jai Sai RamThara Balaji ( Balajees ) Doha, Qatar